Observations

Region:

Girdwood/Portage

Location:

Crow Pass Trail and road observation to Portage Valley

Observer:

Aleph Johnston-Bloom (Professional)

Date:

May 24, 2018 3:00pm

Route & General Observations

Crow Pass trail to 2600′. We took the standard trail and then traveled a talus slope to avoid deeper snow and avalanche hazard from above. We wanted to get an overview of snow cover and recent avalanches. Much of May has been cold and snowy. A “shed cycle” has been observed in the mid elevation terrain around the advisory region. However, there is fresh snow at upper elevations and the snowpack is still transitioning from winter to spring. Warmer temperatures and direct sun could trigger natural avalanches. Much of this trail is in the track of avalanche paths that can run from above. The snowpack is also becoming more and more saturated and traveling could initiate avalanches as well.
We also did road observation to Portage Valley to look at the Byron Glacier valley and the glide cracks on Maynard. We have not observed glide cracks until now. These are important to recognize if you are traveling near them. Glide avalanches are totally unpredictable and are the entire snowpack releasing to the ground.

Obvious signs of instability

Recent Avalanches?

Yes

Collapsing (Whumphing)?

No

Cracking (Shooting cracks)?

No

Observer Comments

Recent slab and loose snow avalanches. The FS developed rec staff observed a large natural avalanche in motion the day before (May 23, 2018) in the afternoon from the trailhead.
Glide cracks are opening up on Maynard Mountain in Portage and in other terrain throughout the region.
There are still large cornices above Byron Glacier Valley and the terrain near the creek. Travel past the end of the trail is not recomended.